System for processing input data from a food handling line to determine trigger data for sampling, and a method thereof

Abstract

A system (900) for processing input data (912) received from a food handling line (902) to determine trigger data (938) for sampling is provided. The system comprises a transceiver (914), a processor (916) and a memory (918). The transceiver (914) is configured to receive the input data (912) and transmit the trigger data (938). The processor (916) is configured to execute a first trigger block function (920) configured to receive first input parameter data (924) and transmit first output parameter data (926), a second trigger block function (922) configured to receive second input parameter data (928) and transmit second output parameter data (930), wherein the input data (912) comprises the first input parameter data (924) and the second input parameter data (928), and the trigger data (940) comprises the first output parameter data (926) and the second output parameter data (930).

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food handling line, comprising:
 a system for processing input data received from the food handling line to determine trigger data for adjusting operation of one or more devices of the food handling line, said system comprising a transceiver, a processor and a memory;   wherein the transceiver is configured to receive the input data and transmit the trigger data;   wherein the processor is configured to execute a first trigger block function that receives first input parameter data and transmits first output parameter data, and a second trigger block function that receives second input parameter data and transmits second output parameter data; and   wherein the input data comprises the first input parameter data and the second input parameter data, and the trigger data comprises the first output parameter data and the second output parameter data,   wherein the one or more devices comprise a sensor, wherein the trigger data initiates a sampling of the sensor,   wherein the first and second input parameter data comprise:
 Enable, a Boolean operator, which if set to true switches state from Off to Starting, 
 Abort, a Boolean operator, which if set to true switches state to Off, 
 Force Complete, a Boolean operator, which if set to true switches from Active to Complete, 
 Done, a Boolean operator, which if set to true switches state from Complete to Wait, 
 Delay Time, an integer, which sets delay from Starting to Active, 
 Active Time, an integer, which sets delay from Active to Complete, and 
 Wait Time, an integer, which sets delay from Complete to Off. 
   
     
     
         2 . The food handling line according to  claim 1 , wherein the second input parameter data comprises at least part of the first output parameter data. 
     
     
         3 . The food handling line according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second trigger block functions each comprise a finite state machine comprising a state selected from the group consisting of Off, Starting, Active, Complete, and Wait. 
     
     
         4 . The food handling line according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 a transition between states is a function of the input data, and/or   the trigger data is a result of the transition between states and/or of a current state of the finite state machine.   
     
     
         5 . The food handling line according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 execute a third trigger block function that receives a third input parameter data and transmits a third output parameter data; and   wherein the input data comprises the first input parameter data, the second input parameter data and the third input parameter data, and the trigger data comprises the first output parameter data, the second output parameter data and the third output parameter data.   
     
     
         6 . The food handling line according to  claim 5 , wherein the first and second input parameter data comprise at least part of the third output parameter data. 
     
     
         7 . The food handling line according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure mechanical vibrations. 
     
     
         8 . The food handling line according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more devices comprise a user interface configured to display a notification and wherein the trigger data comprises the notification. 
     
     
         9 . The food handling line according to  claim 1 , wherein the food handling line comprises a food processing line and/or a food packaging line. 
     
     
         10 . A method for processing input data received from a food handling line to determine trigger data for adjusting operation of one or more devices of the food handling line, wherein the one or more devices comprise a sensor, said method comprising:
 receiving, via a transceiver of a system for processing the input data, the input data, wherein the input data comprises a first input parameter data and a second input parameter data, wherein the system comprises the transceiver, a processor, and a memory;   feeding, via the processor, the first input parameter data to a first trigger block function;   executing, via the processor, the first trigger block function such that first output parameter data is generated;   feeding, via the processor, the second input parameter data to a second trigger block function;   executing, via the processor, the second trigger block function such that second output parameter data is generated; and   combining, via the processor, the first output parameter data and the second output parameter data into the trigger data,   transmitting, via the transceiver, the trigger data to the sensor to initiate a sampling of the sensor,   wherein the first and second input parameter data comprise:
 Enable, a Boolean operator, which if set to true switches state from Off to Starting, 
 Abort, a Boolean operator, which if set to true switches state to Off, 
 Force Complete, a Boolean operator, which if set to true switches from Active to Complete, 
 Done, a Boolean operator, which if set to true switches state from Complete to Wait, 
 Delay Time, an integer, which sets delay from Starting to Active, 
 Active Time, an integer, which sets delay from Active to Complete, and 
 Wait Time, an integer, which sets delay from Complete to Off. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the second input parameter data comprises at least part of the first output parameter data. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the one or more devices comprise a user interface and the method comprises displaying on the user interface a notification, wherein the trigger data comprises said notification.   
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instruction stored thereon, that when executed on a processor, perform the steps of a method according to  claim 10 .